THE government has been condemned for resurrecting plans to send migrants to Ascension Island that were condemned as unworkable, inhumane and wildly expensive.

Home Office Minister Sarah Dines confirmed today that the measures were being looked at again in case the Tories’ flagship policy to deport asylum-seekers to Rwanda fails.

She insisted the government is confident of the legality of the Rwanda scheme — in June, the Court of Appeal ruled that it was not a safe third country to deport migrants to, but that decision is being appealed against by the government at the Supreme Court.

Earlier plans to send migrants to Ascension, an isolated volcanic island in the south Atlantic with an RAF station and a population of less than 1,000, were ditched in 2020 after then home secretary Priti Patel asked officials to look into their practicality.

Natasha Tsangarides, associate director of Advocacy at Freedom from Torture, said today: “With their Rwanda scheme only just having been ruled unlawful, it is staggering to read reports that this government is now planning to send refugees to Ascension Island.

“This resurrected idea has already been branded unworkable, inhumane and wildly expensive once before. It’s time for these cruel ‘cash for humans’ schemes to be abandoned once and for all.

“Millions of caring people across the country stand united with refugees, faith and community leaders in rejecting this government’s perverse ‘dream’ to bundle survivors of torture and persecution onto planes bound for the unknown.

“The movement for an asylum system that has compassion at its heart is growing stronger by the day, and we will not stop fighting for it.”

Asked if reports the Ascension Island plan was being renewed suggested ministers did not think the Rwanda scheme would work, Ms Dines MP told Sky News: “We are thoroughly committed to seeing the Rwanda agreement through. We are confident that offshoring is lawful.

“Of course, as a responsible government we are looking at additional wrap-around measures to see what else is available.”

The Home Office declined the comment on the Ascension plan.

Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, a think tank which focuses on equality and identity issues, said “it isn't in any way feasible, confirmed again in 2022-23 as in autumn 2020 — but they don't want to rule it out publicly during ‘asylum headlines’ week.”